It's Been a Long Long Time Coming, But I Know a Change Gonna Come

When I was pregnant with my kids, as my due dates approached, I would think to myself, "Only 2 more weeks until it's not just going to be the two of us anymore." Or, "By this time next week, it's going to be back to diapers, late night feedings and no sleep!" I'm sure I am not the only one who felt this way. Funnily as the target date for my store opening approaches, I've had similar thoughts -- "Only 3 weekends left and then I'll be working every Saturday all day away from my family...."

My store has been a loooooong time in the making. I've watched as many of the other cupcake bakers here in Paris who started out like me with custom-order business have opened their stores, some have even opened two stores (!) and I'm still plugging away on my own in a rented kitchen.

It took us almost 4 years to decide we were ready for a second child and the same is true about my store. Which I guess will be like a 3rd baby. I used to get sick to my stomach thinking about having a store and all the time it would mean away from my family who I love so dearly. But truth is, I'm not getting any younger and I just feel this is something I gotta do...to see how far I can take this, where my business will lead me. I'm ready for more hard work, I'm still overwhelmingly passionate about what I do, I still love seeing the delight on a customer's face when they see the cupcakes I have created for them, and I'm still a little sick to my stomach about the whole store thing but hoping that will pass in time as my baby grows from a needy newborn to a more independent toddler, and then some hopefully!

I can't recall who I was corresponding with but about 2 years ago on twitter someone suggested when I open my cupcake store, I should give out free cupcakes. I thought it was a mighty fine idea and agreed. Well, I am a woman of my word and that's why we'll be giving away 1 free cupcake to the first 100 people through the door on opening day. No strings.

So without further ado, I am delighted to share that June 23 is the day I've circled on my calendar for the opening of the Sugar Daze Bake Shop. With a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work, we'll be ready!

The Sugar Daze Bake Shop
20 rue Henri Monnier (map here on Foursquare)
75009 Paris
Metro: St-Georges, Pigalle
Open Tues-Sat (still working on those hours)
Phone: Will post just as soon as the phone company gets me set up!

Every day you will find a rotating assortment of the over 30 flavors on my current menu, plus special limited-time only flavors & other traditional, American-style baked goods. Oh and did I tell you how stoked I am to be partnering with Le Palais de Thés whose tea you will be able to enjoy with your cupcakes either as take-out or on-site (yes, there will be a small seating area in the Bake Shop).

Hope to see you there!
PS If you'd like to help me spread the word, please feel free to contact presse@sugardazecupcakes.com for a copy of our press release.

Don't Stop Believing

Well kiddies, if you haven't heard the Sugar Daze Bake Shop is coming soon!!! I am so excited - this is literally a dream come true! And I thank you all who have encouraged me along the way. I am so looking forward to sharing my special brand of American-style cupcakes with both those who are already fans and newcomers alike. It's time Paris got a taste of real fresh-baked cupcakes like we make 'em back home!

If you want to follow news about the store, check out my new Sugar Daze facebook page: www.facebook.com/enviedecupcakes . Oh and sorry for the lack of pics with this post; my tech capabilities are a bit limited as I'm in the hospital with a nasty staph infection (a word to the wise - you know when they tell you to take extra care to disinfect a cut or wound? Just Do It!).

Hope to see y'all real soon at the Bake Shop!

Grab Your Gun.....

Bang Bang, a photo by Sugar Daze on Flickr.

Chocolate Squared cupcake with fondant pistol. No, I don't condone violence, just having fun with a new cookie cutter.

Pink

Baby Shower Cupcakes, a photo by Sugar Daze on Flickr.

These are Vanilla Lovers cupcakes with raspberry cream centers - a special request by the client. All decorations are lovingly hand-made with fondant. These were made for a baptism happening tomorrow on Easter. Congratulations!

Let's Dance

Several months ago, I told you I was making an offer on a store space. Would you believe I never heard back on it? Only a demand from the real estate agent representing the current tenant for an outrageous amount of money for his part in brokering the deal. I don't really understand what happened once I put my offer in and why the owner didn't respond, but it was a demoralizing experience and one I have tried to learn from.

I've always been a believer in karma and like many people I spoke with, believed that this space was probably not meant to be. I've spent the past several months chasing down various property agents and visiting a number of available stores. Two weeks ago, as I was on my way to visit another space, I happened by an empty restaurant with a for lease sign in the window. I called and made an appointment for the next day. Despite the agent being almost 40 minutes late to our RDV and it being a very very cold day where I found myself out on the sidewalk waiting with my 4 year-old daughter, I just had a feeling about the space. And when I walked in, I "knew." All the weeks of agonizing over that original space, the months of frustration with the real estate process, all the times I had almost thrown in the towel thinking I would never find a space, it was all worth it for here was the space I had been waiting for. When I say it was perfect in every way, it's no lie (okay, maybe it could be a little farther away from some of my "competitors" but I'm hoping that there will continue to be a large enough market here in Paris for cupcakes so that we can each have a piece of the pie.). This one was "the one."

Here's what I have learned in the almost year that I have spent looking at commercial retail properties:

1) Brokers here are not looking to form relationships with you. If they have some inventory that interests you, great, but don't expect them to come up with other properties that fit your criteria and don't expect them to chase you down when they get a new property in that would suit. I spoke to about 30 different brokers during my search and not in one single instance did one of these brokers call me after the initial contact to propose a new or different property.

2) If you visit a few different properties with the same broker (almost unrealistic to expect) and after you have seen 2-3 different things, if you haven't found and made an offer on one of those properties, they will lose interest in you as a client and discontinue to make any efforts for you. This happened to me with 3 different agencies. In one case, I had visited 2 sites with a broker, neither of which would permit my particular activity (baking on-site) yet he felt they would be perfect for me! When I saw a new listing on his site and called him to arrange a visit, his response was: "That store is owned by ABC company, check their website for opening hours, go visit the store and if you like what you see, call me and we can talk about the charges." Really? REALLY?

3) If you see an ad for a property and you are not able to visit within the next 48 hours, don't even bother calling; the agent will make an appointment with you but in 9 times out of 10, the property will no longer be available once that window has passed. Now I don't know if this kind of thing is a scam but on at least 12 occasions I called to see a space several days - 1 week in advance and a few hours before the scheduled visit, the broker would call me and say either there had been an offer made so they weren't showing it anymore OR that they had been unable to reach the owner, get the keys, etc.

4) Persistence, persistence, persistence. I consulted a variety of real estate sites on an almost daily basis. Any time I saw a new listing that fit my needs, was within my budget and would allow my activity, I would call. (I learned early on that filling in and submitting the contact sheet provided by the agency on their website electronically or emailing for more information was guaranteed to go without reply in the great majority of cases). Even when calling, I found that I would get my call returned in maybe 2-3 out of 10 cases. I am not kidding when I say that I inquired about maybe 100-130 different locations since last summer and actually spoke to a live body about the space only about a quarter of the time. Of those, I visited maybe 12 properties total to give you an idea of how difficult the process can be.

Have you looked for commercial property here in Paris? If so, I would love to know how your experience compared to mine. I worked for a big real estate holding company with multiple properties in Battery Park City for about 6 months when I was just out of college and I can still remember how much we bent over backwards to appease our clients and close the deals. The Paris market is a total 180 from that and I am still quite shocked about how trying it is to navigate.

So that space I was telling you about....PLEASE CROSS YOUR FINGERS FOR ME - I made an offer last week and unfortunately I'm not the only one to have made a bid. I am trying to stay positive and hoping my bid will be accepted - I'm also hoping this will bring to a close my tangle (or should I say tango) with the commercial property agents here in the City of Light. More to come soon.....

PS That original space? I walked by it last week and shuddered. It's still filled with all the junk the previous tenant left behind when she fled including a number of rotting plants in the window. They say hindsight is 20/20 and I just consider myself extremely lucky that one never panned out!

I'm Coming Out.....

Baby Shower, a photo by Sugar Daze on Flickr.

Storm cupcakes for a baby shower. The couple doesn't know the sex yet. Best of luck for a smooth and quick delivery this week!

Everybody's Working for the Weekend

Just two more clients to welcome and I am officially done for the weekend! The past few weeks have been so hectic, I have barely had a chance to see the time pass. In addition to the usual family and cupcake duties, I have had a whole slew of things to work on as I get ready to open up a shop. It's very slow-going and time-intensive; I find in France you have to work twice as hard to get things done.



I can't help but think of the US and my experience apartment-shopping where you better be sure to carry your checkbook on you lest the property be gone before you even get through the door. Or the real estate agents who work so dang hard for their commissions, they will call you about any and every property they think might interest you...or your dog. I have been working with one agent here for a few weeks who for whatever reason cannot schedule more than 1 property viewing per week. It's frustrating to say the least.



On a more positive note, I have a feeling things are going to start getting easier here for cake bakers with this week's opening of the new Cake & Bake shop near Republique. My friend, Lindsey, and I were lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the new space when I stopped by for a fondant fix and chat with the owner, Paul. (Did I mention he happens to be 19 years old! Man, I only wish I had myself as together when I was that age).



You can read more about Paul and his boutique in an interview written by Bryan, my Cupcake Camp partner-in-crime. All this to say I am very much looking forward to having pots of edible glitter, cookie cutters, fondant, food gels, etc. at my disposal rather than lugging them back from the US or UK every time I go on vacation. Wishing Paul a fantastic opening and a bright, successful future!



If you haven't yet contacted me for a Valentine's Day cupcake assortment and want to order, please do get in touch. There are literally only a handful left, though you can tempt your chances to win a box on my new Facebook page.



Enjoy your weekend everyone!